Mill Creek (Bakersfield) facts for kids

Mill Creek is a cool linear park in Bakersfield, California. It stretches along the Kern Island Canal through the downtown area. Right in the middle of Mill Creek is Central Park, which is the only park in downtown Bakersfield.

Central Park has a pretty lake with fountains that spray water. You can also see the special “Mill Creek” bridge there. The park is also home to the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Bakersfield Community House. The name "Mill Creek" comes from an old flour mill that used to be on 17th Street.

Park History: How It Started

Central Park's Early Days

Central Park was created a long time ago, on August 21, 1921. A company called MacRori and McLaren helped build it. At first, it was called Stark Park for about a month. But then its name was changed to Central Park. This was because it was located right between Bakersfield and East Bakersfield.

In 1938, the very first footbridge was built over the canal in the park. Later, in 1956, some of the park's land was used for an art gallery. This gallery later became the Bakersfield Museum of Art. Also in 1956, a beautiful camellia garden was added. It was a special way to remember Aram Adams, who was a local car dealer. In 1964, another part of the park was used to build the Community House.

Mill Creek Project: A New Look

In 2001, city planners started thinking about how to make the area even better. After many years of planning and raising money, the big Mill Creek project began. The idea was to create a long park that would follow the Kern Island Canal. They wanted to make the canal look more like a natural stream.

New paths were built next to the canal where old access roads used to be. The plan also included making Central Park even nicer. This meant building winding paths, putting in new lights, and making the canal wider into a lake. The old bridge across the canal was replaced with the new, covered “Mill Creek” bridge. Central Park reopened in 2009, looking brand new! The rest of the Mill Creek linear park opened in 2010.

What You'll Find at the Park

Park Length and Paths

The entire Mill Creek Park is about 1.5 miles long. The path runs along both sides of the canal in most places. However, between Golden State Avenue and 21st Street, the path is only on the west side. This part of the path has an iron fence with gates, as it runs next to homes.

Central Park Features

Central Park has public restrooms, which are handy for visitors. There's also a playground where kids can have fun. If you need to connect to the internet, Central Park even has Wi-Fi service, though you might need to pay a small fee to use it.

Park Gaps and Connections

There is a small break in the park between 19th Street and the BNSF railroad yard. You can cross the railroad yard using the Q Street underpass to get to the other side of the park. Some parts of the park, like the section near the Beale Memorial Library, were already nice and didn't need changes. Other sections couldn't be improved yet because of nearby buildings and parking lots.

What's Coming Next for the Park Area

The creation of Mill Creek is just the start of exciting changes in the area. Soon, there will be new buildings next to the "river." These include a four-story office building and homes called condominiums right by the water. A center for older adults and an apartment complex will also be built nearby.

On the east side of Central Park, a new federal courthouse is planned. Also, close to the railroad yard, there might be a train station for the California High-Speed Rail in the future.